Audiobook Review: Death Overdue by Allison Brook

Author: Allison Brook 

Narrator: Mia Gaskin

Title: Death Overdue

(The Haunted Library Mysteries #1)

Genre: Cozy mystery, Paranormal, Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 329 

Published:  October 10th 2017

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

Carrie Singleton is just about done with Clover Ridge, Connecticut until she's offered a job as the head of programs and events at the spooky local library, complete with its own librarian ghost. Her first major event is a program presented by a retired homicide detective, Al Buckley, who claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster, a much-loved part-time library aide who was bludgeoned to death fifteen years earlier. As he invites members of the audience to share stories about Laura, he suddenly keels over and dies.

The medical examiner reveals that poison is what did him in and Carrie feels responsible for having surged forward with the program despite pushback from her director. Driven by guilt, Carrie's determined to discover who murdered the detective, convinced it's the same man who killed Laura all those years ago. Luckily for Carrie, she has a friendly, knowledgeable ghost by her side. But as she questions the shadows surrounding Laura's case, disturbing secrets come to light and with each step Carrie takes, she gets closer to ending up like Al.

Review:

I picked this up without even reading the summary. Decided to take a gamble! All I check was that this was book 1 of the series ;) And I feel my gamble worked out well. 

The story follows Carrie who is about to leave again and go somewhere warm. The heart of the traveler rarely stays somewhere too long. However, she is offered a good job as the head of programs and events at the local library. She was going to deny the job at first but with the gentle nudge from the a ghost she decides to take the job and stay. Her first major event at the library is Al Buckley who is a retired detective and claims he knows who murdered Laura Foster 15 years ago. During his presentation he suddenly keels over and dies. Carrie feels responsible and decides to try and uncover who killed Al and Laura Forster. 

Woah. I expected a mystery and maybe a murder...but it turns into two! Haha you should've seen my face since I was totally going in blind to this book. Loved it. 

The mystery had a lot of twists and turns but I stuck my guns to who I thought it was and I was right. HAHA! I shall pat myself on the back. However, I will say....I doubted my choice especially as more clues and hints and red herrings popped up. The ending was fantastic! I cheered when Carrie did what I was wanting her to do since nearly the beginning. You go girl! 

I liked Carrie. She was very sweet. I did get really sleepy during her long-winded explanation of nonimportant things. Like what everyone was eating at the table or her shopping trips that didn't really seem to push the story along. I think I would've been more forgiving if this was more of a journal/diary format? 

I loved our ghost friend. She was funny and a nice cherry on top of this story. I hope she is in more books. Well...I do want her to find peace and not haunt the library anymore, but I like her a lot so I am selfish and want to see her more. 

The narrator was good. I liked her voices and she did well overall. No issues there. She fit and did well with all the characters. 

In the end, I did like this. A good mystery with a fun set of characters which includes the library ghost. Fun. There were some moments that dragged on a bit, but overall, this was a nice holiday cozy mystery for Halloween AND Thanksgiving. I am tempted to check out book 2. We shall see. 3 stars is what I shall stamp this one. 

Challenge(s):
- #49 for Audiobook Challenge